"Let's see, how about this?" The person placed the book on the table and raised ten fingers toward Oliver.
"Then you have to tell me everything you know." Oliver stood up, his voice firm.
"Fine," the person smiled.
Oliver handed him the coin, his last one. Not a single piece remained in his possession.
"Zelen and his friends weren't here yesterday. He left early in the morning, in such a hurry that he forgot this book." The person gestured toward the book.
"What's so special about it?" Oliver asked, his expression unreadable.
"The book is quite something. He and his friends used to read it day and night. The plot twist is just that good. Imagine this—Person A and Person B are best friends. But in the end, B frames A for being a rapist… and B lives happily ever after." The person waved the book slowly in front of Oliver.
"Give me that." Without hesitation, Oliver snatched the book from his hands.
"Thanks," he muttered before leaving.
"So, you read the book," Zelen smirked. "To make me confess, you disguised yourself as an elf to lure me and my friends?" He bent down, pulling a knife from his boot—this time, a normal one.
"No," Oliver stepped forward, eyes burning with rage. "Get ready to spill the truth. You bastards will pay. I'll make you suffer twice the pain my friends endured."
"Hah....… Hahaha!" Zelen threw his head back, laughing. "You're friends with them? And you two are the only ones who know the truth. Do you really think anyone will believe you?" He covered his eyes with his palm, shaking with laughter.
"Do you take us for idiots?" Ethan pulled out a glass ball(past us ).
Zelen's laughter vanished. "Damn you…... damn you, you bastards—!" He lunged forward, but at that moment, the moonlight faded, and the forest was swallowed by darkness.
"Did you just say you wanted to help them? Then look at them. Look closely." The other Eero, a twisted version of himself, forced his face into the original's mind.
Each of them came to fulfill their own purpose…...and now, to save you, they've lost everything.
"Can't you see the blood on their faces and bodies? They're using everything they have left to protect you. But do you even know what happened to them?"
The words echoed in Eero's head.
"Why do you think Nitin isn't opening his eyes? What happened to Sebastian's arm? Did you see what happened to the others?"
Eero's breaths turned ragged. The past clawed at him.
Flashback – The Mining Cave
Livio and his group had been dragged into the mining cave. Wolfsbane was assigned to watch over them.
Since Eero was unconscious, they had to carry him on their shoulders.
"You will mine this cave," Wolfsbane ordered. "There are dangerous creatures inside, but I don't care. No one slacks off."
His eyes landed on the unconscious Eero.
"Please, sir, have mercy!" Nicolas fell to his knees. "He doesn't know how to use PBV. He's too weak to work. He's already been through so much...please, just let him rest!"
"Please, sir! We'll do his share of the work! Just this once!" Viktor and the others knelt beside Nicolas, pleading.
Wolfsbane scoffed. "Who cares? I don't care if he lives or dies. I want him to work."
He raised his foot, about to kick Eero—
Sebastian threw himself in the way.
"Move, you bastard!" Wolfsbane snarled and kicked Sebastian with a PBV-enhanced blow.
The difference in strength was too vast. Sebastian tried to block it, but he was sent flying, crashing through three trees.
"Sebastian!" His friends ran to him, leaving only Nicolas and Nitin still kneeling before Wolfsbane.
Sebastian lay on the ground, trembling, his breaths shallow.
"Are you alright?! Sebastian…... Sebastian, say something!" Matteo and the others lifted him, settling him under a tree.
The soldiers surrounding them burst into laughter, watching the scene unfold like a game—like a cat watching a fish struggle out of water.
"I…... I can't." Tears streamed down Sebastian's face. "I can't feel my left arm anymore…"
On the other side, Nitin and Nicolas still clung to Wolfsbane's foot, their faces desperate.
"Fine," Wolfsbane said at last. "I'll let him off the hook—for a price." His gaze bore into Nitin. "I want your eyes closed."
"Wait....." Nicolas gripped his hair, trying to think of an alternative.
Nitin turned to him, then looked back at Eero, still unconscious.
"Fine."
"Wait, Nitin, don't! I have an idea.....what if we each close just one eye instead? Please!" Nicolas tried to rise, but soldiers pinned him down.
Nitin gave him a small smile. "Thanks, but it's alright."
"Please, don't. No more." Nicolas's voice broke. "I came here for a carefree life…... but my biggest mistake was befriending you. I never knew…....that deep bonds hurt this much.
"Is this the price of friendship? Watching the people you care about die, suffer, and give up—while you stand there, helpless, like a tree? Feeling pain but unable to express it? Crying every day but unable to shed tears? Cursing yourself forever for what you've lost?
"Why? Why did this happen?" Nicolas sobbed, broken.
Present – Eero's Mind
"No….. Nitin, Sebastian….. even Nicolas….. Did I do that to them? No, that's impossible." Eero gasped, struggling to breathe.
"Come on, don't be shy." The other Eero whispered. "Look at Tomasz and Viktor. Look at their battered bodies. What do you think happened to them?"
The world darkened. The other Eero vanished.
Flashback – The Escape Attempt
Viktor had run to warn them about Wolfsbane's arrival. The group panicked and rushed back to mining.
Eero was with Tomasz when it happened.
Eero kicked Tomasz to the ground and ran toward the light.
"You bastards! Who cares about you?! The only person I care about is Elena! I'm coming, my love!"
He sprinted toward the gate. Tomasz chased after him.
"Eero, stop!"
"Leave me alone!" Eero shrieked, thrashing against Tomasz's grip.
"Calm down, Eero! This isn't you talking! Think!" Tomasz pleaded, tightening his hold.
"Hah...… Hahaha!" Eero grinned wildly. "Can't you see? This is the real me!"
Viktor approached cautiously, but before they could react—
Wolfsbane entered. The cave fell silent.
"What's going on here?" he demanded, his gaze locking onto Tomasz restraining Eero.
"Sir!" Eero cried suddenly, twisting free. "These two.....they were beating me! I refused to do their work, so they ganged up on me!"
Tomasz stiffened. "Eero, what the hell are you saying.....?"
Alaric dropped his pickaxe, about to intervene.
But Viktor raised his hand, signaling him to stop.
And in front of all their friends...… Tomasz and Viktor took the punishment, never telling Eero the truth.
Present – Eero's Breakdown
"I…....betrayed them?" Eero whispered.
He saw it now.
Tomasz suffered for my sins.
"I watched my friend suffer...… while I stayed safe."
"No…... please, let them go. Please!"
Alaric, unable to watch anymore, grabbed his pickaxe and charged toward Wolfsbane—only to be caught by Matteo and Luka.
Current Scene
"NO! YOU'RE LYING!" Eero shrieked, his body convulsing. "I would never betray my friends!"
Laughter.
Crying.
A cycle, repeating endlessly.
And in the abyss of his mind.....Eero was drowning.